Predation

Adult fin whales have no natural predators. Populations have been heavily exploited by humans who nearly hunted them to extinction in the early part of the 20th century. Hunting exceeded nearly 10,000 whales per year in the 1950’s. Young fin whales may be targeted by large predators, such as Orca orcinus, although fin whales groups are likely to be successful in defending their young. ("Balaenoptera physalus", 2008; Croll et al., 2002; Sokolov and Arsen'ev, 1984; Tinker, 1988)